Mu Beta Psi

Mu Beta Psi
ΜΒΨ
Founded	November 5, 1925 North Carolina State University
Type	Service
Scope	National
Colors	Red and      White
Flower	Red and White American Beauty Rose
Chapters	19 lettered, 1 alumni
Headquarters	Raleigh, North Carolina United States
Homepage	mubetapsi.org

Mu Beta Psi National Honorary Musical Fraternity (ΜΒΨ) is a service and music fraternity with chapters and colonies at universities throughout the eastern United States.

Although an honorary fraternity, Mu Beta Psi views itself as primarily a music service group. Several of the chapters run scholarship programs and pride themselves on providing service to their music departments.

Any member of the fraternity is referred to as a "Brother" without regard to the member's sex. This practice comes from the fraternity's beginnings and is used in context as a designation of membership status, not gender.

History

Founding and Early Years

Mu Beta Psi National Honorary Musical Fraternity was founded on November 5, 1925 at North Carolina State College by Music Director Percy W. "Daddy" Price and a group of 12 men from the Class of 1926 who were involved in campus music organizations. The purposes of the Fraternity were to promote music in its proper place as an educational subject, foster a fellowship among musicians, and stimulate interest in music across the college campus. In the next few years, Price determined that the Fraternity was different from the other music groups on campus and deemed it worthy of growing into a national organization with multiple chapters.

With the addition of Beta Chapter at Davidson College in early 1929, Mu Beta Psi started to grow. Meetings of the two chapters in late 1929 and early 1930 resulted in the adoption of the Fraternity's Constitution, the founding of the National Organization, and the elections of the first National Officers. With a strong desire for Mu Beta Psi to realize its true potential, Price pushed hard for the Fraternity's expansion. Some of the earliest prospects included Wake Forest and William & Mary.

Unfortunately, Price's life was cut short by a heart attack in 1933. His successor as Music Director, Christian D. Kutschinski, continued to promote Mu Beta Psi. He became National Executive Secretary in the mid-1930s and sought to expand the Fraternity wherever and whenever possible.

Despite the challenges of the Great Depression and Beta Chapter going inactive, Delta Chapter was established at Clemson College in 1937. Alpha and Delta Chapters would remain active side-by-side for the next 68 years.^[1]

World War II and the 1950s

World War II brought about new challenges for Mu Beta Psi. As many students graduated and others entered the armed forces to fight overseas, Chapter activity was limited. With the war's successful conclusion, Kutschinski helped Delta Chapter reorganize and increase its active membership. Alpha and Delta Chapters met for a National Convention in 1949.

The 1950s saw the majority of Chapter activities take place on the local level, with minimal collaboration between the Chapters. Despite a desire to meet for a Convention every year, they would not do so until 1957.

The 1960s and the Era of Development

The 1961 National Convention marked an important milestone for Mu Beta Psi. It was at this meeting that the National Constitution was amended to allow membership to women. Additionally, a national publication was created, which would become known as The Clef. New expansion efforts were also put into place. This Convention also became the first of an unbroken chain of annual Conventions that continues to this day.

The 1960s is considered the first Era of Development. The Fraternity saw additional changes in both leadership and expansion. Kutschinski stepped down as National Executive Secretary in 1962. Three years later, Ralph W. Daniel was elected to the position and would serve for the next 18 years. Two new Chapters were installed, the first in nearly two decades. One was Epsilon Chapter at Washington & Lee University in 1965, which would remain active for nearly 20 years. The other was Zeta Chapter at Michigan Technological University in 1967, which was the result of a successful merger with Tri-Beta. Zeta remains active to this day. 1965 also saw the adoption of the Editor of The Clef as a National Officer. "Hail the Spirit," written by Milton C. Bliss, was adopted as the Fraternity Song in 1967.

The 1970s and 1980s

The Fraternity continued a period of gradual growth in the 1970s and 1980s. The Alumni Association was formally established in early 1970, providing college graduates with a Chapter to continue their participation in the Fraternity's activities. The short-lived Eta Chapter was installed at VMI in mid-1970. Theta Chapter was established at Saint Augustine's College in 1973, and remained active for 13 years. Iota Chapter was established at Duke University in 1981 and went inactive 3 years later. Kappa Chapter was established at Wofford College in 1989 and stayed active for 7 years. The mid-1980s also saw the creation of the Permanent Board of Trustees for the purpose of ensuring stability in the organization. The first members of the Permanent Board included Wallace DesChamps, Charlie Emki, David Wilson and Bryan Reamer.

Reorganization and Expansion in the 1990s

A second Era of Development began in the early 1990s. The National Organization underwent a reorganization with the division of responsibilities and the creation of new national offices, including the Vice President of Chapter Maintenance, Vice President of Expansion, National Treasurer, and National Historian. The National Constitution was revised and approved in 1996. Three members of the Permanent Board resigned and were replaced by Joseph Bledsoe, Timothy Kudlock, and Gayle Kirby. Another resignation a few years later resulted in confirmation of Benjamin Griffeth to the Board. In terms of expansion efforts, Lambda Chapter was established at Anderson College in 1991, only to go inactive a year later. Mu Chapter was established in 1993 at UNC-Chapel Hill, and it would remain active for 19 years. The Fraternity also extended northward with the establishment of Nu Chapter at SUNY Oswego in 1994 and Xi Chapter at Saint Vincent College in 1996. Nu is currently active and Xi remained active for 10 years.

The 21st Century

The 2000s saw Matthew Zander and Andrew Fleming confirmed to the Permanent Board. The Fraternity also saw the establishment of five new Chapters—the largest period of growth to date. Omicron Chapter was established at Roanoke College in 2001. In 2007, the Brothers of Mu Upsilon Alpha at Rutgers University merged with Mu Beta Psi to establish Pi Chapter. Rho Chapter was established at Northern Michigan University in 2008. A year later, Mu Beta Psi crossed the Mississippi River for the first time with the establishment of Sigma Chapter at Saint Louis University in 2009, although it would quickly go inactive. In 2011, Mu Beta Psi established Tau Chapter at American University in Washington, DC.

Over the years, through the accomplishments and the challenges, the purposes of Mu Beta Psi have remained the same. Brothers remained steadfast as musicians on their college campuses, and sought to promote, advance, and celebrate music in both their schools and their communities. They remained committed to service and volunteered their time and talents to ensure that their musical programs were successful. Mu Beta Psi brings together individuals from every background imaginable, united through a common love of music and a desire to advance it wherever possible.

Chapters

The chapters were named in order of their acceptance to Mu Beta Psi. Chapters are:

† Gamma Chapter was never formally designated; Percy W. Price died before a school could be finalized and a Charter issued, and the effort was lost. Records indicate that Gamma Chapter was to be established at The College of William and Mary, but colonization efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

‡ The Mu Beta Psi Alumni Association is a separate organization, but considered an active chapter. The Alumni Association is open to alumni of all Mu Beta Psi chapters, active or otherwise.

National Presidents

The following is a list of the National Presidents of Mu Beta Psi since the establishment of the Fraternity's National Organization in 1929. The Office was vacant on two separate occasions. The first was from 1932 through 1957, although Christian D. Kutschinski used the title National President interchangeably with National Executive Secretary during that time. The second instance was between 1958 when Wade Hicks resigned and the 1961 National Convention.

Notable alumni

• James L. Adams (Eta) -- Executive Vice-President of the VMI Foundation (1998-2009)
• Joseph A. Cannon, Jr., (Beta) -- Mayor of Greensboro, NC (1956-1957)
• Chatham Calhoun Clark (Beta) -- North Carolina State Senator and State Representative, serving the town of Elizabethtown and Bladen County, elected as a Democrat
• Wayne Arthur Corpening (Alpha) -- Mayor of Winston-Salem, NC (1977-1989), elected as a Democrat—Corpening Plaza is named in his honor
• Paul Moncier Cox (Alpha) -- Mayor and Alderman of New Bern, NC
• Timothy Bennett (Delta) -- Singer-songwriter of Contemporary Worship music under stage name T. Culler
• Rev. Ernest Krikor Emurian (Beta) -- Hymn composer and Pastor of Cherrydale United Methodist Church, Arlington, VA (1962-1981) -- he wrote over 80 hymns, including "Bless Thou the Astronauts," "Little Dreams we Forgot," "Angel Vision Christmas," and a parody hymn about the Watergate scandal entitled "When They Play That Great Tape in the Sky"—he also composed "Arlington," which was adopted as the official song of Arlington, VA in 1970
• L. Macon Epps (Alpha) -- Inventor and Engineer who worked for the Grumman Aerospace Corporation for 37 years—most notably he worked on the Apollo Lunar Module as the Assistant Program Manager—as an inventor, he received a patent in 1978 for a "combined water heater and sauna room heater device"
• William H. Frazier, Jr. (Delta) -- Major, US Army; Executive Officer, 3rd Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. Killed in Action near Pugwan, Korea on November 13, 1950.
• Edwin J. Freeman (Delta) -- Professor, band advisor, and founder of the Industrial Engineering Department at Clemson University (then Clemson College). Also composed "Tiger Rah!", Clemson's official fight song from 1935 through 1947. His son, Edwin A. Freeman, was also a professor of music at Clemson, an initiated Delta Chapter brother, and Delta Chapter's advisor for several stretches from the 1960's through the 2000's.
• Paul Brown Fry (Beta) -- Teacher of Musical Education and Charter Member of the American Choral Directors' Association
• Stephen Grove (Epsilon) -- Historian of the United States Military Academy (1978-2008)
• John Linwood Hall (Beta) -- North Carolina State Representative, serving the city of Burlington and Alamance County, elected as a Republican
• Samuel Middleton Hines (Beta) -- 25 year career with the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) (1949-1974), including several years as Budget Director
• Christian David Kutschinski (Alpha) -- Director of Music, North Carolina State University (1933-1956)
• Lachi (Mu) -- Singer-songwriter, Producer, Author, and Founder of the UNC Cadence
• Hugh Frederick MacMillan (Beta) -- Senior Executive at The Coca-Cola Company and namesake of the MacMillan Law Library at Emory University
• Arnold Miller (Alpha) -- Served in the invasion of Normandy on D-Day and was killed in action on June 11, 1944
• George Ivison Mims, Jr. (Delta) -- Captain, US Air Force, 433rd Tactical Fighter Squadron, 8th Tactical fighter Wing (Ubon RTAFB), 13th Air Force. Killed in Action over Hanoi, North Vietnam, December 20 1965. His body was not recovered and he was listed as POW/MIA until April 1973. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial, National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu HI; and on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall, Washington DC.
• Rockford "Lance" Olive (Alpha) -- Mayor of Apex, NC (2015–Present), and former Member of the Apex Town Council, elected as a Republican
• Robert Bradford Orr (Beta) -- Chairman of the Anesthesiology Department of the Lahey Clinic in Boston, MA from (1966-1971) -- During his career he performed anesthesia, by request, on actor Charles Raines, boxer Gene Tunney, Red Sox player Ted Williams, Supreme Court Justice Arthur Goldberg, and British Prime Minister Sir Anthony Eden among countless others
• Percy W. "Daddy" Price (Alpha) -- Director of Music, North Carolina State College (1924-1933)
• Gilbert C. Robinson (Alpha) -- Head of the Ceramics Department at Clemson University and namesake of the The Gilbert C. Robinson Department of Ceramic Engineering
• Christopher Rodkey (Xi) -- Pastor of St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Dallastown, PA
• Jonathan Santore (Iota) -- Composer, Conductor, Professor, and Chair of the Department of Music, Theatre, and Dance at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire
• Robert Schlegel (Epsilon) -- Commander in the U.S. Navy assigned to the Pentagon and was a casualty of the September 11, 2001 Terrorist Attacks
• Isaac William Thorn (Alpha) -- Served on General Dwight Eisenhower’s staff as a member of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF) in preparation for the D-Day invasion at Normandy
• Robert C. Vaughan, III (Epsilon) -- President of the Virginia Foundation for the Humanities
• Ebissa Grainger Williams (Beta) -- Served on the staff of Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Commander in Chief of the Pacific Fleet during World War II and was President of Williams & Rosen Insurance Agency (1965-1976)

References

External links

• Mu Beta Psi National Organization
• Alpha Chapter
• Zeta Chapter
• Nu Chapter
• Pi Chapter
• Rho Chapter
• Mu Beta Psi Alumni Association